British theatre and musical producer (born 1946)
This article is about British theatrical producer. For South African slalom canoer, see
Cameron McIntosh
.
Cameron Mackintosh
|
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Mackintosh at Hatchards, London, 2022
|
Born
| Cameron Anthony Mackintosh
(
1946-10-17
)
17 October 1946
(age 77)
|
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Occupation
| Producer
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Partner
| Michael Le Poer Trench
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Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh
(born 17 October 1946) is a British
theatrical producer
and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the
New York Times
.
[1]
He is the producer of shows including
Les Miserables
,
The Phantom of the Opera
,
Cats
,
Miss Saigon
,
Mary Poppins
,
Oliver!
,
and
Hamilton
.
Mackintosh was
knighted
in 1996 for services to musical theatre.
[2]
Two of his productions,
Les Miserables
and
The Phantom of the Opera
, are the two
longest-running musicals in West End history
. In 2008,
The Daily Telegraph
ranked him number 7 in their list of the "100 most powerful people in British culture".
[3]
In the
Sunday Times Rich List
of 2021, Mackintosh was estimated to have a net worth of £1.2 billion.
[4]
Early life
[
edit
]
Mackintosh was born in
Enfield
, London, the son of Diana Gladys (nee Tonna), a production secretary, and Ian Robert Mackintosh, a timber merchant and jazz trumpeter.
[5]
His father was Scottish, and his mother who was a native of
Malta
, was of Maltese and French descent.
[6]
[7]
Mackintosh was educated at
Prior Park College
in
Bath
.
[8]
Mackintosh first knew that he wanted to become a theatre producer after his aunt took him to a matinee of the
Julian Slade
musical
Salad Days
when he was eight years old.
[9]
Theatrical career
[
edit
]
Mackintosh began his theatre career in his late teens, as a stagehand at the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
, and then became an assistant stage manager on several touring productions. In 1967, working with Robin Alexander, he co-produced five plays at the
Kenton Theatre
,
Henley
.
[10]
He began producing his own small tours before becoming a London-based producer in the 1970s.
[11]
His early London productions included
Anything Goes
in 1969 (which closed after a mere two weeks),
The Card
(1973),
Side by Side by Sondheim
(1976),
My Fair Lady
(1978), and
Tomfoolery
(1980).
[12]
[13]
In 1981, he produced
Andrew Lloyd Webber
's
Cats
, then considered an unlikely subject for a musical.
[12]
It became the hit of the season, and went on to become one of the longest running musicals on both sides of the Atlantic. After the success of
Cats
, he approached the French writing team
Claude-Michel Schonberg
and
Alain Boublil
about bringing their musical
Les Miserables
(then a successful French concept album) to the London stage.
[12]
The musical opened in 1985 at the
Barbican
before transferring to the
Palace Theatre
.
Les Miserables
had a shaky start at the box office and a lukewarm critical reception before becoming a massive hit, largely by word-of-mouth and is now the longest running musical
[14]
and second longest running London production.
[15]
In 1986, Mackintosh produced Andrew Lloyd Webber's
The Phantom of the Opera
,
[16]
which is one of the most commercially successful musicals of all time.
[17]
The original London production is still running and is the 3rd longest running production in London,
[15]
along with the New York production, which is the longest-running
Broadway
musical of all time.
[18]
He produced Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's next musical
Miss Saigon
, which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the
West End
in September 1989. It was similarly successful,
[19]
and the 1991 Broadway production
[20]
had what was then the largest advance ticket sales in theatre history prior to its
controversy
.
[21]
Asian American actors protested the casting of a Caucasian actor and the use of yellowface in the role of the pimp.
Mackintosh has produced several other successful musicals, including
Five Guys Named Moe
(both in London in 1990
[22]
and on Broadway) and a revised London production of
Stephen Sondheim
's
Follies
in 1987.
[23]
In 1995, Mackintosh produced the
10th anniversary concert of
Les Miserables
in London. Additionally he was responsible for presenting the West End transfers of the
National Theatre
revivals of
Oklahoma!
(1999),
[24]
My Fair Lady
(2001),
[25]
and
Carousel
(1993).
[13]
Mackintosh's less successful London productions include
Moby Dick
(1993)
[26]
and
Martin Guerre
(1996).
[27]
He produced the stage adaptation of
John Updike
's
The Witches of Eastwick
(2000) which despite some positive reviews and a run of over 15 months, failed to replicate the worldwide success of his previous blockbusters.
Mackintosh became a co-owner of the theatrical licensing company
Music Theatre International
in 1990. He started the theatre group
Delfont Mackintosh Theatres
in 1991.
Disney Theatrical Productions
president
Thomas Schumacher
met with Mackintosh in 2001 to discuss making
Mary Poppins
into a stage musical.
[28]
Mackintosh's involvement in the development of
the musical adaptation
led to his producing both the 2004 West End
[29]
and 2006 Broadway productions, at the
Prince Edward Theatre
and the
New Amsterdam Theatre
, respectively, along with Schumacher.
[30]
[31]
He co-produced the London transfer of
Avenue Q
, which opened in the West End at the
Noel Coward Theatre
on 1 June 2006.
[32]
In 1998, Mackintosh celebrated thirty years in show business with
Hey, Mr. Producer!
, a gala concert featuring songs from shows he had produced during his career. The concert was performed twice, on 7 and 8 June, with proceeds going to the
Royal National Institute of Blind People
and the Combined Theatrical Charities. Many celebrities took part, and the 8 June performance was attended by
Queen Elizabeth
and
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
.
[33]
Mackintosh produced a revival of Lionel Bart's
Oliver!
at the
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
which ran from 2008?09. The production was cast via the hit BBC television series
I'd Do Anything
.
Jodie Prenger
became the winner and was subsequently cast as Nancy in the production, with
Rowan Atkinson
as Fagin. The publicity and attention surrounding the production was unprecedented on the West End stage, and it was reported in January 2009 that the production was the fastest-selling show in West End history, with £15 million of pre-opening sales.
[34]
In April 2010, Mackintosh staged a
West End revival
of the musical
Hair
in London's
Gielgud Theatre
. This production was transferred from Broadway, where a revival production was staged in 2009.
[35]
In 2013, he worked with the
Chichester Festival Theatre
on a revival of
Barnum
, starring
Christopher Fitzgerald
. Due to the Theatre's refurbishment, it was performed in a giant tent 'Theatre in the Park' in July and August. Mackintosh has voiced interest in producing a Broadway revival of
Barnum
with American actor
Neil Patrick Harris
in the title role.
[36]
On 27 January 2014, Mackintosh was the first British producer to be inducted into Broadway's
American Theater Hall of Fame
.
[37]
On 3 May 2014, Mackintosh relaunched
Miss Saigon
at the
Prince Edward Theatre
in London, celebrating 25 years since its first launch.
[38]
On 6 December 2017 Mackintosh began previews of
Lin-Manuel Miranda's
Broadway hit musical
Hamilton
in London. It premiered on 21 December 2017 at the
Victoria Palace Theatre
.
Influence
[
edit
]
Mackintosh is notable as a producer for his transformation of the musical into a global and highly profitable brand; he was the first theatrical producer to recognise that both touring productions and worldwide productions (often in countries where musicals were seldom seen such as the former
eastern bloc
countries in the early 90s) were potentially highly lucrative markets which could collectively, match and even surpass the revenues generated from New York and London productions.
[39]
Mackintosh has also had considerable success in bringing legitimate theatre directors (such as the
Royal Shakespeare Company
's
Trevor Nunn
and
Nicholas Hytner
) and technicians to the world of musical theatre.
Mackintosh's Delfont Mackintosh group owns eight London theatres, the
Prince Edward
, the
Prince of Wales
, the
Novello
, the
Sondheim
, the
Gielgud
, the
Wyndham's
, the
Victoria Palace
and the
Noel Coward
.
Personal life
[
edit
]
Mackintosh was
knighted
during the
1996 New Year Honours
for services to musical theatre.
[2]
His partner is Australian-born theatre photographer Michael Le Poer Trench.
[40]
They met at the opening night of a production of
Oklahoma!
in
Adelaide
, Australia in 1982.
[41]
The couple live between homes in London;
Stavordale Priory
in
Charlton Musgrove
,
Somerset
; and the Nevis Estate, on North Morar in the
West Highlands
.
In 2006, Mackintosh was listed 4th on
The Independent on Sunday
'
s
Pink List
, a list of the most influential "out-and-proud" gay men and women.
[42]
He was also listed 4th in 2005.
[42]
Mackintosh also topped
The Stage
100
list in 2007 for the first time since 2000.
[43]
The list recognises the most influential members of the performing arts community at the end of each year.
He is a patron of
The Food Chain
, a London-based
HIV
charity.
His younger brother, Robert Mackintosh, is also a producer.
Laird of Nevis
[
edit
]
In 1994, Mackintosh bought the Nevis Estate, on North Morar, to the east of
Mallaig
in the
West Highlands
of Scotland, covering around 14,000 acres (5,700 ha). He has since been involved in a long-running dispute with a tenant crofter, over the land use on the estate. As the
laird
, Mackintosh wants to use the land for building holiday homes, but the crofter says the land is needed for grazing.
[40]
[44]
Politics
[
edit
]
In 1990, Mackintosh responded to criticism of
Jonathan Pryce
using prosthetics and skin darkening makeup to play a Vietnamese character, "We passionately disapprove of stereotype casting...by choosing to discriminate against Mr. Pryce on the basis of his race,
Equity
has further violated the fundamental principles of federal and state human rights laws, as well as of federal labor laws."
[45]
In 1998, Mackintosh was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to the
Labour Party
,
[46]
a decision he later regretted,
[47]
[48]
saying in 2010, "Labour really fucked it up. They were profligate at a time when we were doing well. That's why we have the problems we have now. They didn't save any money for a rainy day. It couldn't have been worse these last 12 years."
[48]
In the
2015 British general election
, Mackintosh donated £25,000 to the successful Conservative candidate for
Somerton and Frome
,
David Warburton
.
[49]
In the
2016 European Union membership referendum
, Mackintosh voted for the UK to leave the EU, stating that it was "not because I don't love Europe - I do huge amount of work in Europe and love Europeans - but there is something wrong with a system where the Fat Controller is not accountable".
[50]
Production credits
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"The Musical is Money to His Ears"
New York Times, 9 December 1990
- ^
a
b
"No. 54255"
.
The London Gazette
(Supplement). 29 December 1995. p. 21.
- ^
"The 100 most powerful people in British culture"
. Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2016.
Archived
from the original on 12 January 2022.
- ^
"The Sunday Times Rich List 2021"
.
www.thetimes.co.uk
. Retrieved
19 November
2021
.
- ^
Cameron Mackintosh Biography (1946?)
Film Reference
- ^
"Cameron Mackintosh: Wizard of the West End"
[
dead link
]
The Independent
, 21 July 2001
- ^
"Mackintosh wins tourist award for London's starring role"
The Independent
, 21 April 2006
- ^
"Dance"
Archived
19 August 2011 at the
Wayback Machine
priorparkcollege.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
"Cameron Mackintosh"
. Cameron Mackintosh Limited. Archived from
the original
on 9 April 2008.
- ^
Behr, Edward (1989).
The Complete Book of les Miserables
. p. 55.
ISBN
978-1559700337
.
- ^
"Cameron Mackintosh biography from official site"
Archived
21 June 2012 at the
Wayback Machine
cameronmackintosh.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
a
b
c
Rothstein, Mervyn.
"A Life in the Theatre: Cameron Mackintosh"
Archived
23 August 2011 at the
Wayback Machine
playbill.com, 30 April 2011
- ^
a
b
"Production History, Official Site"
Archived
15 April 2012 at the
Wayback Machine
cameronmackintosh.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
"The 20 Longest-Running West End Musicals"
.
Official London Theatre
. Retrieved
30 October
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"Top 10 Longest-Running West End Shows"
.
www.atgtickets.com
. Retrieved
30 October
2019
.
- ^
"Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera to premiere in Kuala Lumpur"
.
www.nst.com.my
. 10 December 2018
. Retrieved
27 February
2019
.
- ^
Gans, Andrew (22 September 2014).
"The Lion King Is Now Top Earner in Box-Office History"
.
Playbill
. Retrieved
22 September
2019
.
- ^
The Broadway League.
"The Phantom of the Opera ? IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information"
.
ibdb.com
.
- ^
" 'Miss Saigon' listing, West End"
Archived
13 December 2010 at the
Wayback Machine
albemarle-london.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
Miss Saigon
at the
Internet Broadway Database
accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
Simonds, Jon.
"AmerAsians and the Theater"
newsun.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
" 'Five Guys Named Moe' listing, Lyric Theatre"
thisistheatre.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
" 'Follies' inLondon"
sondheimguide.com, accessed 20 December 2012
- ^
"Mackintosh Takes RNT's 'Oklahoma!' to Lyceum"
whatsonstage.com, 25 September 1998
- ^
" 'My Fair Lady' Comes Home to Drury Lane, 21 Jul"
whatsonstage.com, 20 March 2001
- ^
Jones, Kenneth.
"UK's 'Moby Dick!' Musical Gets NYC Reading In Anticipation of US Licensing"
playbill.com, 23 January 2003
- ^
"Mixed Reviews for London 'Martin Guerre'"
playbill.com, 14 July 1996
- ^
Sibley, John; Michael Lassell (2007). Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It. Disney Editions New York. pp. 348?349.
ISBN
0-7868-3657-1
- ^
Nathan, John (12 January 2008).
"London Mary Poppins Takes Her Final Bow"
.
Playbill
. Archived from
the original
on 20 February 2008
. Retrieved
19 December
2012
.
- ^
Mary Poppins
ibdb.com, accessed 19 December 2012
- ^
Gans, Andrew.
"Playbill.Com's Brief Encounter with Thomas Schumacher"
Archived
9 October 2012 at the
Wayback Machine
playbill.com, 19 September 2006
- ^
Shenton, Mark.
"London's 'Avenue Q' Extends to January 2010"
playbill.com, 30 July 2009
- ^
Archive for 'Hey, Mr. Producer!'"
Archived
17 September 2010 at the
Wayback Machine
albemarle-london.com, accessed 19 December 2012
- ^
BWW News Desk
Mackintosh's OLIVER! Scores Big with Critics and Box Office
BroadwayWorld.com, 15 January 2009
- ^
Hair stages a Sixties reunion
Archived
17 April 2010 at the
Wayback Machine
London Evening Standard, 15 April 2010
- ^
BWW News Desk
Neil Patrick Harris Headed Back to Broadway in BARNUM?
BroadwayWorld.com, 5 February 2010
- ^
"Cameron Mackintosh enters Broadway Hall of Fame"
bestoftheatre.co.uk, accessed 11 February 2014
- ^
"Miss Saigon to return to West End in 2014"
.
BBC News
. 20 June 2013.
- ^
Gamerman, Ellen (23 July 2010).
"Exporting Broadway"
.
The Wall Street Journal
.
- ^
a
b
Jamieson, Alastair (17 October 2010).
"West End millionaire Sir Cameron Mackintosh in court battle with crofter"
.
The Daily Telegraph
. London.
Archived
from the original on 12 January 2022
. Retrieved
2 March
2011
.
Sir Cameron, laird of the Nevis Estate
- ^
"Play it again, Cam: How Mr Mackintosh became theatreland's first ever"
.
Evening Standard
. 15 May 2014
. Retrieved
10 February
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"Gay Power: The pink list"
.
The Independent
. 2 July 2006
. Retrieved
26 November
2013
.
- ^
Smith, Alistair (27 December 2007).
"Mackintosh tops this year's Stage 100"
.
The Stage
. Retrieved
4 January
2008
.
- ^
Brown, Jonathan (28 February 2011).
"Sir Cameron Mackintosh: The impresario, the land dispute, and a boat in flames"
.
The Independent
. London
. Retrieved
2 March
2011
.
- ^
Zia, Helen (2000).
Asian American dreams: the emergence of an American people
. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
ISBN
0-374-14774-4
.
OCLC
42437065
.
- ^
"
'Luvvies' for Labour"
.
BBC News
. 30 August 1998.
- ^
Walker, Tim (16 April 2010).
"David Cameron wins applause from impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh"
.
Telegraph
. London.
Archived
from the original on 12 January 2022.
- ^
a
b
Arifa Akbar (20 September 2010).
"Cameron Mackintosh: 'Cuts needn't be bad for creativity'
"
.
Independent
. London.
- ^
"Lib Dem Election Destruction Was Fuelled By More Than £867,000 of Donations"
.
The Huffington Post UK
. 29 June 2015.
- ^
Arlidge, John (7 July 2023).
"Brexit? Now, all the world's a stage for us, says Cameron Mackintosh"
.
ISSN
0140-0460
. Retrieved
7 July
2023
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh
by Sheridan Morley and Ruth Leon, published in the UK by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and in the US by Back Stage Books, 1998.
- Master of the House. The Theatres of Cameron Mackintosh
by Michael Coveney, published by Unicorn, 2023, ISBN 9781914414831 (about the historic London theatres owned by Mackintosh and their renovations)
External links
[
edit
]
Awards for Cameron Mackintosh
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International
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National
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Artists
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Other
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